Screenshot from the trailer for Sancta by Staatsoper Stuttgart/YouTube
The scandalous performance of Sancta by Austrian choreographer Florentina Holzinger continues to cause a stir. Despite the fact that nearly 20 operagoers in Stuttgart sought medical attention for nausea after watching the performance, all tickets for the next show have already been sold out, The Guardian reports.
According to representatives of the Stuttgart Opera House, the performance, which included live piercing scenes, unsimulated sexual acts and copious amounts of both fake and real blood, was a real challenge for some viewers. “Eight people needed medical attention on Saturday and ten on Sunday,” said opera spokesman Sebastian Ebling, commenting on the reactions to the two performances of Sancta.
The choreographer Florentina Holzinger, known for her unconventional productions that blur the lines between theatre and variety, has once again provoked controversial reviews. The performance features an all-female cast, often naked. Previous works by Holzinger have included scenes of sword swallowing, tattoos and even masturbation on stage.
The history of Sancta: what led to this reaction?
“Sancta is Holzinger’s first experience in the opera genre. The production is based on the expressionist opera Sancta Susanna by Paul Hindemith, which is controversial in its own right. The original opera from the 1920s tells the story of a young nun who, under the influence of one of the older nuns, strips naked before the altar and tears the cloth covering the image of Jesus.
The premiere of the modern version in Stuttgart replaced the musical elements of the original with naked nuns rollerblading in front of a wall of bodies crucified on stage. After the performance was shown in Vienna in June, it drew sharp criticism from the bishops of Salzburg and Innsbruck, who called it a “contemptible caricature of the holy liturgy.”
Florentina Holzinger states that her work explores the parallels between conservative religious institutions and BDSM subcultures, rather than being a deliberate mockery of the church.
Current warnings for viewers
Audiences attending Sancta are warned in advance of possible triggers, including loud noises, scenes of violence and sexual acts. “If you find it difficult during the performance, do not hesitate to look away,” urges spokesperson Ebling.
Despite the scandalous reaction of the audience, the commercial success of the play did not suffer. Tickets for all five subsequent performances in Stuttgart, as well as for two performances at Berlin’s Volksbühne Theatre in November, are sold out.
